Ananke recalled in his mind over and over again as he walked with closed eyes 'Ring, Clothes. Ring, Clothes… Ring clothes?', almost sleep deprived.
Smiley asked 'You sure you are feeling alright—'
He stated his mind, 'Alright lets get that ring inspected out' and took him to an achamley shop.
As they entered, some kids dashed out smiling brightly and giggling to themselves.
Smiley walked up the counter where the person on desk looked at Smiley and then glanced towards the ring, 'You lots again? I already told you it's a normal ring. Tsk tsk tsk children these days pick up anything from ground—' but a cough broke his venting.
He glanced behind to see Ananke standing there, 'Oh…' he paused before continuing, 'Did those children ask you to do this? I tell you, you need to stop being so soft—'
Ananke cut in embarrassed, 'No! we got nothing to do with that this time. Can you get this ring inspected to see if it heals its user or some hidden contraption?'
Smiley showed the ring at the counter desk. He grabbed the ring and fiddled with bright light behind it, 'Seeeems~ normal to me and no engraving.'
Looking at Ananke he suggested, 'If it is important then we can inspect it thoroughly in the back but it will take some time.'
'Nothing seems odd about this.' but looking at Ananke he responded, 'If it's of importance then we can inspect it more thoroughly in the back but it will take some time.'
Ananke looked back at Smiley to see if he wanted but looking at him being clueless, Ananke responded 'Let's do that. I will go with them'
Smiley said 'Then I will go sit—' but was cut off by Ananke, 'Meanwhile you can go and check the town. Who knows you might find something interesting'
Smiley said 'But how will you find me?'
Ananke beaming with confidence responded 'Don`t worry, I will find you.' as he controlled the wind around Smiley.
Ananke took out a coin pouch and dropped it in his hand.
'Rhina gave me these. You can use this to look around the town'
Upon hearing her name, the hesitation in his eyes vanished and accepted it.
Ananke responded, 'Sure thing, just go and try to make friends or something.'
Smiley walked out and looked around the town thinking to himself 'Friends… It shouldn't be that hard. My new life awaits me!'
… It did not even take a long time before Smiley stood against the wall like a clueless child smiling to himself and nodded, 'Now that I think about it, I was a loner back at the Village too. The kids didn't like me and I haven't even talked to anyone my age except for Ella who usually started the conversations…'
Smiley accepted it as he laid defeated, 'I guess I am a loner for life… My new life— it's soo over. I mean how do you even talk to someone? A complete stranger on top of that…'
Smiley found himself in the Bazaar nearby with various different items on stands.
His eyes caught a bread stall, 'I guess might as well call it a day.' as he went there and asked out much for one.
The man looked at his face and said '50.'
Smiley instantly noticed they were increasing the price for him and responded 'Was it not 36?'
Another shop keeper who sat behind said 'Yea it is 36' and looked at the seller saying 'Come one now, why are you increasing the price for him'
Smiley was well aware of their tactics. One man increased the price and the other would correct and scold him if they were caught. He has seen it many times before. For some reason everyone upon seeing his face tried to pull a fast one on him.
Smiley purchased the bread and went on his way with a foul mood, 'Town or Village, I guess it's the same people everywhere…'
He even knew the person scolding him would be scolding him for raising the price to 50 instead of 40 to make it more believable and sure enough, they were whispering about it after he left.
As Smiley walked by and he stumbled upon a running boy who crashed into him. He had the same black hair just like Smiley but wider eyes which seemed cold despite his innocent looking appearance.
The boy spoke 'Ah– Sorry, I got lost—'
He looked up and saw it was just another boy who was around the same age as him, "Oh you are just some child."
He swiped his glaze around before standing up attempting to run off but was stopped by Smiley.
He froze, slightly afraid as he slowly turned his face back. Smiley smiled as he asked, 'Weren't you lost? Let me help you'
He looked at him in relief. "Oh… haha, I can find my way back."
Smiley did not let his hand go saying 'I got some time to kill, do not worry. I can help you'
He thought 'Time to kill?', He looked at Smiley and responded 'Fine but you seem more lost than I do' as he hid the coin bag he pickpocketed from Smiley without anyone noticing.
As they walked together, the boy kept on glancing at Smiley who was munching on his bread.
While he was thinking of plans on how to escape this "navie" boy 'Do I kill him?', Smiley was cloudy in his own mind thinking he might have a perfect chance to make a new friend, 'Woah we can be friends.' Surely a match made in heaven.
Smiley caught him glancing over so he immediately looked away to which Smiley responded, 'Want some?' as he 'broke it in half, giving him the unbitten piece with a smile.
The boy thought 'It just had to be a Goody shoe.' as he smiled, accepting it.
The boy noticed the bread which was not even half of the original as Smiley had already eaten most of it and broke the remaining one into half.
Soon they reached a place where a girl stood with black medium-long hair just like the boys.
She was looking around in worry and her glaze caught the eye of his brother.
Upon seeing him, she came as he said "Tamio, where did you ran off to? You know how worried I was"
She looked at the bread he had in his hand and then Smiley. She stood up and said "Thank you for helping him"
Tamio responded "I really was not lost" to which her sister hit him, scolding him, 'Show some gratitude.' and once again thanked Smiley and apologized for her brother's behaviour
Smiley let out an awkward laugh 'No need to worry about that. I will get going now' as he waved back and walked away.
Smiley walked away without a second thought 'Well now i am alone again…' and tapped his pouch thinking 'What else can I do… Well I guess I will head back now.'
As he walked alone through the streets of the bazaar, something caught his attention. A mask in one of the stalls.
Bored, he picked up the odd looking mask which had no eye or mouth. It was silver colored with nothing on it. He brought it close to his face and found there was no way to see through it.
As Smiley pulled down the mask, his eyes met with an older girl whose hair was long and red, emerald green eyes just standing across the streets of the bazaar with another, short wavy hair woman who walked away from her at that moment.
Even in the crowded streets of starless sky. An empty path connected them. There she was, looking at the sky while there he was, looking at her. Her eyes were so indifferent and distant while his eyes were confused and lonely. Looking at others with an empathy for loneliness. He remembered that sight till very this day even when he could no longer remember her face.
Smiley with his narrowed eyes, whispered, 'Is that—'
But was interrupted by the shop keeper who had a frown on his face, "Hey child, if you got nothing to do then hush away."
Smiley looked towards him and then the mask. He had forgotten he was inspecting the mask.
Smiley smiled asking, 'What is this mask for?' but was meant with a cold reply "You either buy it or not" as he glanced up and down.
Smiley thought he annoyed him and asked 'How much is this?'
"1 silver", A price too high for a mask. Smiley seemed annoyed at how he was judged on his looks of "being clueless" and being given a higher price once again.
Just then Ananke walked up from behind and patted him on his shoulder 'What are you doing?'
Ananke was looking at him interested. His eye met with the mask upon which he smiled 'Interested in this?'
Smiley said 'I was just wondering why it had no holes to see through'
Ananke looked at the shop keeper and asked 'How much is this for?'
Smiley looked at shop keeper who was just glanced to the side to find Ananke, the Hero of city standing there and glanced back towards the paper he was reading paper "1 Silver"
Smiley thought he would tell the real price of it but the frown on his face had not shifted slightly even after looking at Ananke.
Ananke responded 'Is that not a bit much?'
He responded with same words he did for the boy "You either buy it or not"
Usually they easily fold when confronted by an adult but this man did not seemed to bat an eye.
Ananke bargained 'It can not be that hig—'
"2 Silver"
'Don`t you think—'
"3 Silver"
Ananke sighed.
"5 Silver"
'Oh come on. I was not even—'
The old man shifted his gaze towards which made Ananke stop from saying another word.
Ananke was annoyed but knew without a doubt, the next time he breath, let alone spoke. The price would rise to a gold coin.
Smiley grabbed his arm while smiling, almost holding in his joy 'Come on, lets go.' as he dragged him away from the stall.
Ananke said as they walked away 'You sure you do not want that mask?'
Smiley seemed in a better mood 'Yea. I was just looking around.'
Ananke just smiled, 'I guess this is good too.'
The red-haired girl who Smiley was staring at looked towards the commotion caused by Ananke and noticed them.
Her eyes widened and she smiled.
'Found You.'
Just then the black haired appeared from behind her, 'Found what? My romance senses are tingling' as she sniffed twice, 'I smell romance 2 chapters away.'
The red-haired girl stared at her like she was a helpless degenerate, 'Liza, can you stop teasing me. Not everyone is delusionally stuck in romance novel' as she glanced at the book Liza was holding against her chest titled "Forbidden Love - Prince of the forgotten world"
Liz proudly announced, 'This one is sacred work. You don't know how much effort I had to go through just to find it.', biting down on her nail envious she said, 'That jerk of an author, only if he wasn't a pretty face… You get me don't you Mina— Can you stop looking at me like I am worth less than a piece of trash.'